VLIZ shop - Sea&Science collection

By purchasing a product of the Sea&Science collection of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) you support the sea. The profit goes to coastal, marine and ocean research worldwide. More knowledge leads to better insights for a sustainable future. So you can continue to enjoy the sea!

Lumpfish

Cyclopterus lumpus, the lumpfish, is one of the around 100 bony fish that live in the Belgian part of the North Sea. It has a very clumsy appearance and is about 40 cm in size. In spawning times (reproductive period) females become green-blue in color and males orange. At the belly they have a suction disk (by fusion of the pelvic fins) with which they can attach strongly to rocks or other surfaces. Eggs are deposited in shallow waters, often in the presence of algae. The male guards the nest and provides the eggs with oxygen by ventilating it with his fins. Young lumpfish are turquoise in color. They are often found near floating seaweed packs. In northern Europe the lumpfish is fished because of the eggs, which are sold as fake caviar.

The drawing of the lumpfish used on VLIZ-products comes from the book 'Poissons marins' of the Belgian scientist Max Poll. The publication dates from 1947 and was issued by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. The book is present in the VLIZ library.

Edible crab

Cancer pagurus, the edible crab, has a reddish-brown colored carapax and black claw pincers. This robust crab can grow up to 30 cm in width. It is a common species in the Belgian part of the North Sea, where another 70 other crab species live. When caught and placed its the back this crab stays motionless with the legs bent inwards. Crabs grow in steps, by molting. They shed off their old, too small armor while a new, soft one is ready present underneath. The new carapax hardens in a few hours. In the meantime, those soft crab are an easy target for his predators. For the time being the newly molted crabs hide in a hole or between rocks or shells.

The drawing of the edible crab used on VLIZ products comes from the book ‘A history of the British stalk-eyed Crustacea’ written by Thomas Bell. The publication dates back to 1853. This ancient book can be consulted in the VLIZ library, but you can browse it online.